SIEGEL LAW

Handling all aspects of family law and appellate matters

At Siegel Law, we strive to create a strategy for your divorce or family law matters, and will always strive to honor our client’s needs rather than what is just expedient or convenient. While this time that can be both confusing and disorienting for our clients, we strive to be sympathetic, responsive and aggressive when necessary. Our aim is to make sure that the end result reflects the initial strategy and objectives.

Rob is both a court-appointed mediator in divorce matters and has been appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem in Monmouth County to oversee contested custody matters. Some family law attorneys set unrealistic expectations for their clients and thrive off the raw emotions and anger of contentious divorces. Our clients view us as results-oriented, but not at the expense of adding unnecessary drama to an already challenging and fragile situation. Our strategic perspective is to achieve mutually beneficial agreements and cooperation. We will fight for you if necessary, but always with a clear goal-oriented philosophy.

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  • Divorce Agreements

  • Prenuptial Agreements

  • Parenting Time Agreements

  • Litigation And Mediation

  • Custody Disputes

  • Real Estate

  • Alimony Modification

  • Child Support Modification & Emancipation

  • Appeals

  • Domestic Violence

  • Equitable Distribution

  • Post-Judgment Motions

  • Grandparent Custody/Visitation

  • Interstate Child Support & Custody Matters

  • Relocation Matters

  • Wills & Trusts

Robert Siegel 

HANDLING ALL ASPECTS OF FAMILY LAW AND APPELLATE MATTERS

For ten years, Robert Siegel has devoted his practice to the mediation and litigation of all aspects of family law in New Jersey. After clerking in the Family Division of the New Jersey Superior Court for the Hon. Ann R. Bartlett in Hunterdon County, Rob gained tremendous experience working in both large and small firm environments, including at Riker Danzig in Morristown. As a Law Clerk, Rob also mediated special civil and small claims matters, and earned the highest settlement percentage in the Hunterdon/Somerset/Warren County vicinage. Not all lawyers have had the distinct honor of clerking for a judge. This highly coveted level of experience gives Rob a clear advantage in helping his clients achieve successful outcomes.

Rob’s practice has been strengthened by his publishing of numerous articles on complex issues of family law, including interstate child support and custody laws, as well as his recent article on the consequences of the 2014 amendments to New Jersey’s alimony statute as it relates to termination based on retirement. Rob is one of the few family lawyers in New Jersey to not only write about these complicated legal issues, but also litigate them, including at the Appellate Division.

Our Philosophy

Our clients view us as results-oriented, but not at the expense of adding unnecessary drama to an already challenging and fragile situation. Our strategic perspective is to achieve mutually beneficial agreements and cooperation. We will fight for you if necessary, but always with a clear goal-oriented philosophy.

FAQs

Is there a residency requirement for filing for divorce in New Jersey?

In order to file a Complaint for Divorce in New Jersey, you must have resided in this State for at least one year prior to filing. While there is a narrow exception from this general rule for cases involving a claim of adultery, most courts in New Jersey require that the one-year residency requirement be met.

Will my divorce be finalized within one year?

The Family Part trial courts in New Jersey are instructed to have cases resolved within one year of the date that the Complaint for Divorce is filed. However, this preferred timeframe is enforced differently in every county of the State, and parties can proceed at their preferred pace as long as they choose to negotiate outside the court system prior to filing the Complaint for Divorce.

Is a 50/50 parenting time schedule a realistic goal for me?

There is no formula for determining residential custody in New Jersey, but our Family Part trial courts have in recent years adopted a more flexible approach to 50/50 shared parenting time schedules with divorced parents. In the majority of divorce cases, the parents will have joint “legal” custody of a child or children, but the residential custody aspect of the case is always negotiable.

Is there a formula for determining alimony in New Jersey?

The alimony statute in New Jersey was revised in 2014. However, there is no specific formula for determining the length and/or duration of alimony, as well as the alimony dollar amount. The revised statute describes the maximum length of alimony for marriages of under twenty (20) years in duration, but the alimony dollar figure has remained subject to negotiation during the divorce process.

Is there an automatic age for a child’s emancipation in New Jersey?

Under the recently revised statute, there is no automatic emancipation age for children in New Jersey. However, upon reaching the age of nineteen (19), it must be demonstrated to the Court that the child in question is a full-time student, otherwise he/she will be deemed emancipated, and child support terminated. Child support cannot last beyond the child’s 23rd birthday, even if they continue to attend school.

Does retirement automatically lead to the termination of my alimony obligation?

The answer to this question is far from simple, and is determined by whether the payor spouse was divorced before or after the alimony statute was amended in September 2014. My article published on this complex topic can be found in a recent publication of the New Jersey Family Lawyer.

Is it possible to attend mediation during the divorce litigation process?

While cases that do not settle by a certain point in the litigation process are sent to court-ordered mediation, the parties and counsel may choose to attend mediation prior to that time if all parties agree. If an agreement can be reached at mediation or a settlement conference early on in the process, counsel for either party can draft the Divorce Agreement and move the process along in an efficient manner to a final divorce hearing.

Can default be entered against a party who fails to respond to a Complaint for Divorce?

The default process can be fairly extended, but it will ultimately allow the divorce to be entered against a party who refuses to participate in the litigation, and/or does not respond in a timely manner to court filings.

Can I take my ex-spouse back to Court after our divorce is finalized to enforce the Agreement?

Yes. Much of our practice is also dedicated to so-called “post-judgment” applications seeking to enforce various provisions of Divorce Agreements a/k/a Marital Settlement Agreements.

Can I appeal the decision of the trial court?

Yes. Appellate work can be time-consuming, but is often necessary to remedy improper decisions made at the trial court level. The appellate process can be extended and costly, so it is important to discuss the nature of the matter in depth with our office before proceeding.

What if I was divorced in a different State and now live in New Jersey?

This will depend on the specific factual circumstances of your case, and the issue that you are attempting to resolve. Our office has specialized experience with the manner in which divorce agreements entered outside New Jersey can be enforced here.

Fred S.

Not only did Rob help me resolve my contentious divorce, but he then fought to reduce my alimony payments post-judgment when my ex-wife refused to negotiate with me. Rob is a relentless advocate and was always available to discuss my case.  His attention to detail and communication skills were second to none, and helped salvage my case.

Sandra F.

Mr. Siegel did not fight for my money, he truly fought for me and what was right. The positive that came from my contentious divorce was having the best representation from Mr. Siegel. His thoughtfulness and guidance was a gift in an otherwise tumultuous period of my life. If you are seeking counsel that truly has both parties best interests at heart, you need to contact Mr. Siegel.

Melissa B.

I was in need of an Attorney for issues related to my divorce. So I searched on Google and gave him a call. He spoke to me right away, and advised me on what i could do. He was very easy to speak with, he was kind, sincere, knowledgeable, and professional. I am very pleased that he handled my case. He works very hard and he is a fabulous Attorney.

Cathryn L.

Robert was the perfect attorney to help me handle a business case as it related to a pending divorce of a business partner. He was responsive, straightforward and also knew all local parties involved which helped get the situation resolved swiftly. Robert came recommended by a trusted friend who found him recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in NJ — which he turned out to be! Thank you, Robert for your help.

Beth R.

I was referred to Rob by a good friend after I had mentioned some post divorce issues my brother was having. I spoke to Rob first to make sure he would be both patient and understanding of the complexities behind my brother’s divorce. In meeting with him, he was a perfect fit for my brother. Throughout the entire process, he was compassionate, understanding, very patient and very responsive. He took the time to explain everything each step of the way and different avenues to explore that would best suit my brother. He’s definitely someone I have grown to respect during this process and will continue to recommend to anyone that is in need of his services.

Gina V.

We had a very unusual and difficult Child Support Case. Rob Siegel fought so hard for us! He is very professional and helped us through our case step by step resulting in a win for us! We are so happy and relieved. We highly recommend Siegel Law! 5 stars +